Assurances from authorities on Monday confirm the safety of all 40 workers trapped in a tunnel collapse on the Char Dham route. While Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the site and confirmed the workers are safe and in communication, the rescue operation is expected to take up to two more days.
The collapsed portion of the tunnel, under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, prompted immediate rescue efforts. Secretary Disaster Management Ranjit Kumar Sinha stated that the trapped laborers could be rescued by Tuesday night or Wednesday.
The current focus of the rescue strategy is stabilizing loose debris through shotcreting and inserting a large-diameter steel pipe to evacuate the trapped workers. The continuous falling of loose debris has hindered progress, requiring stabilization efforts.
NHIDCL director Anshu Manish Khalkho emphasized the ongoing communication with the laborers through a pipe supplying essential items. Rescuers have sent dry fruits and other food items to the trapped workers as they work to establish a safe evacuation passage.
The collapsed area, spanning 30 meters and located 270 meters inside the tunnel from the Sikyara side, is under investigation by a technical committee headed by the Uttarakhand Landslide Minimization and Management Centre.
The trapped workers, hailing from various states, are receiving support from both the state and central governments. Chief Minister Dhami assured that every effort is being made for the safe rescue of the trapped workers, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi providing support and closely monitoring the situation.